Thomas County cat., 1887-03-17

finished-no door, no windows. We
had to nail up carpets and quilts for
that and many other nights. No one
could be an invalid long in that de-
lightful country. 1 gained strength
each day. our house was soon cLished,
and then commenced the pleasant task
of making our home look like home.
Our cabin was unusually large. The
lower floor was one room, as was also
the upper, the only difference between
the two you had to lower your head
somewhat in moving about in some
parts of the upper floor. l began by
having all furniture for which l had no
immediate use stored in those parts
of the upper floor that it wasn't
convenient to stand up in. Then 1
drew an imaginary line dividing the
lower floor into parlor. bedroom
ard kitchen. A large bed, with a
sliding-bed underneath for the chii-
dren, around which suspended cur
tain. was the bedroom; piano. sofa,
rocker and two chairs was parlor;
dining-room contained table. chairs
and bureau; kitchen, cook stove and
table. l covered the floor with rag
carpet, thinking it the most sui, able. l
put some beds upstairs for the accom-
mediation of any travellers until ho.ei
could be built. We were now settled.
My husband. in the mean time, had
not been idle. Parties were buying
lots and building houses, saw-mill
was going up. and the land was being
cleared, for the town was located right
in the woods. Those were pleasant
days. for. although pressed with busi-
ness, my husband would occasionally
60 hunting and fishing. l almost al
ways accompanied him. He had bought
me Il small rifle and taught me to shoot
at a mark until l had been quite expert
with my rifle. so he was not the only
one who brought down the game OH
our hunting expeditions.
My first introduction to the Indians
was rather unexpected. 1t was one
Sunday. All had gone out for walk,
leaving the children and myself for the
first time alone. Four big Indians
stepped to the door, and ali l could
think of was the terrible things had
read about scalping, etc. l turned
around without a word and cut up
some pies and gave to them. remem-
bering that some one had said that if
you are kind to them they won't harm
you. There was a smile on their faces
when they took the pie and sat down
to eat it. Now, when l think of it.
would say they must have been smiling
in their sleeves had they any to smile
in. for they could see how frightened 1
was.
Our place was only few miles from
Winnebago Reservation. and the In
dians now began to come back and
forth to trade and buy at the store.
We were often annoyed by them.
One morning l had just mixed some
5read dough and had put it nicely COW
cred o chair near the stove. when
big Indian walked in and deliberately
sat down on it. l pulled him away
and showed him the bread. He laughed.
AS the weather grew colder and tine
evenings longer we derived much en-
joyment from our musi.. We had pur-
chased all the latest songs before leav-
ing home, and made good use of them.
Many a traveller on entering our cabin
home opened wide his eyes in astonish-
ment when they rested on the piano
One gentleman from Philadelphia went
so far rs to say that had he came across
a steamboat in the woods he wouldn't
have been more surprised. often had
quite an audience, composed mainly of
Indians, listening attent:yely.
The land all around us was taken up,
and. in order to have our one hundred
and sixty acres near the town, hus-
band bought 4 claim from young
man who had not yet acquired title
from the Government. 1t was about
two miles from town. We were obliged
to live on it thirty days before we could
pre-empt it. We delayed living on it
till the following spring. and came
near losing it. Husband came in one
evening il great haste and said he had
heard that some man was building
cabin on our claim. and if we didn't |
take possession of our cabin that night |
we would lo1e it. l hastily gathered
together few .hings. and we started |
on our tramp through the woods. hus-
band leading the way. with child |
on one arm and lantern on |
the other, followed by myself |
and the rest of the children, with |
Pat, our man of all work. in the rear
trundling whcelbarrow laden with |
bedding. etc. l gradually became
reconciled to living in hut. for
that was about what it was. Isoon be-
gan to realize the truth of what that |
woman had warned me, for large
centipede. five inches long. fell from
the roof to my feet one day. and at
another time l brushed one from my
bed. The children called m, attention